Spindle-construction



Nov. 18, 1952 G. ERIKSON ET AL 2,618,517

SPINDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 21, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 18, 1952G. ERIKSON ET AL 2,613,517

SPINDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 21, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w/a wNm 7 5 v 1.1. 6 w 0cm, h u 1 I; m MK 2 e w i/ s Q LN mm. m S 0 SW ME RL EM .I 6%

Nov. 18, 1952 Flled May 21, 1947 Nov. 18, 1952 G. ERIKSON ET AL SPINDLECONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 21, 1947 Nov. 18, 1952 G.ERIKSON ET AL SPINDLE CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 21, 1947G. ERIKSON ET AL SPINDLE CONSTRUCTION Nov. 18, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet FiledMay 21, 1947- Patented Nov. 18, 1952 ED; OFFICE SPINDLE-CGNSTRUCTIONGustaf 'Erilison, Benton Harbon'an'd Eddie Chris tian Filstrup, St;Joseph, Mich., assignors to (level Mfg. 00.; Benton Harbor, Mich; acorporation of Michigan Application May 21, 1947, Serial Nr 749,452

4 Claims:

This invention relates to improvements" in" spindle construction;particularly adapted,

though" not necessarily limited. in its use; fer grindingandiprecision'boring machines,iandorre of the objectsbfthe inventionisto 'provideimr proved means whereby, accurate machining of "the workmaybe accomplished by controlling'or regulating'the'film of oil betweenthebearingsr and spindle.

Another object'is to provide'improved" means for preventin ,Wobbling ofthe spindle, whereby close "work and accurate machinin fmay be performed.

A further 'object'is to provide improved -means whereby flexiblehydraulic pressure 'mayjibe ex';

erteduponithe bearings, to provide tighter "fit.

between the bearings and spindle.

A still further' object is to provide improved means whereby flexible.hydraulic" end? thrust uponithe spindle maybe'obtain'ed.

To the attainment of these ends, andftheaccomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear;the invention consists inthefeatures ofnovelty in" substantially the constructionjcombination andarrangement'of' the severalparts;

hereinafter more fully described and "claimed "and shown 'in'theaccompanying drawings exemplifyiing this invention, in which drawingsFig. 1 is a. longitudinal sectional view of a' spindleof thischaracter,'construct'ed in accord ance'with the principles of thisinvention.

Fig." 2"is anenlargeddetailsectional view of F the motor 'end of thespindle;

Fig.13 isan' enlarged detail sectional view of I the grinder ortoolend'of the spindle.

Fig. 4'isan enlarged detail transverse sectional view taken on line F-4,Fig; 2.

Fig.5 "is a sectional viewon line .55, Fig. 3.

Fig; dis a detail sectional view takenonjm 6-6; Fig; 5.

Fig; 7 isa longitudinal sectional View of a modified form of theinvention;

Fig. 8'is'a top plan'viewiof Fig.7.

Fig. 9 is asectional view :on line fl- -9,Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional viewtaken on line ill-l0; Fig. '7;

Referring more particularly to the drawings;

the numeral 1 designates a spindle or shaft journaled in "a'bearingdesignated generally by the numeral 16' (Fig; 1), located adjacent oneend. and in a hearing I! adjacent the other end there of. If the spindleis of sufficient length, intermediate-bearings mayalso be provided.On'one end of the spindle is a suitable tool, which", in 'the' presentexemplification of the invention; is shown as a grinding. element I8.This element is secured in position many suitable manner, suchlas by.means. of clampingmembers [9-29. one of which secured to'the spindle,and the'clamping members may be separably secured together. by means-ofvsuitable fastening devices such as screws 2 I; or the like.

Mounted nearthe other end 'ofthe spindle'is a motor 22, here shown as ofthe electric type, the motor being preferably. disposed between thebearings I 6-'l 1.

Anoil reservoir 23;..ofany suitable size and configuration, is suitablymounted, and forms a art of the bearing 16, or maybe separate therefrom.A pump has an inlet'supply' pipe 25 which communicates with thereservoir, and also a discharge pipe 26 that leads through a branch pipe21; to an oil channel 28 that has communication'w'ith a space29 betweenthe spindle [E and the inner surface of the bearing; whereby a of bilforlubricant in? e suppliedyto eficompass. or surround th' m within thebearing. Tfie discharge pipe 26 "is a1so' provided with aiiothel branch30 which 'latt'ei has communication-with ani'oil passage 3 I in the endbearing ll of the spindle, for'the purpose of creating pressure upon" anend thiust'bearing for the spindle, in amanher to belater described.-

A ressure gauge "33is' provided'in the pipe 25" toindi'cate thepre'ssureexerted "by the 'oil upon the bearings. In the branch pipe 2'l'th'ere isprovidedan adjustable pressure regulating and relief valve '34,'an'dapressure gauge 35, and'leadingflffom the reliefvalve is areturn pipe34*, which discharges back into the reservoir 23; In the pipe 3!]"isalso provided 'an'adjustablepressure regulating and relief .valve 38an'd a pressure gauge 3fl fand leadingfrom therelief valve 3fl 'is apipe30"that discharges back into the reservoir 23;

Anextension 30 leads" from the pipe 30, andcommunicates with'a passage65, which'latter communicates with cylinders 5|, to operate the pistons53 ,'"as willbe later described. In the pipe 30 is arranged anadjustable pressure regulating... andrelief .valve3fl' l'from whichleads a pipe 30 around the relief- 'valve 30 and communicates with thepipe 30 that leads back to the reservoir 23.' Apressure gauge 36 is alsoarranged in the pipe 30 With this arrangement, oil pressure at thebearings [61' I1, 35"and 36 and at theend 55 of spindle 15' (Figs. 2 and4) may be determined by settingthe relief valves 34,30 and 30 It hasbeenfo'und-th'at, in operation, the steadiness of the action of aspindle of this character,

under high speed, can be controlled by regulating or controllin thevolume or thickness of the film of oil which surrounds the spindlewithin the bearings. That is, the thicker the film, the more the spindlewill wobble under high speed of rotation. However, by reducing thethickness of this film, the more steady the spindle will rotate, andwobbling will be reduced to a minimum. This is very desirable,especially when the tool is used for accurate machining. To that endthere is provided improved means whereby the thickness of the oil filmabout the spindle, as well as the lubrication of .the spindle, may bereadily controlled.

As shown in Figs. i and 5, the spindle bearing proper is formed of twomembers 35-36, which are slightly spaced from each other, as at 31, toprovide a space to permit the oil to flow into and from the spacedirectly surrounding the spindle, oil grooves 38 being also provided forthat purpose.

The members 9535 of the bearing are pre vented from rotation, in anysuitable manner. such as by means of keys 31 Arranged also within thehousing portion of the bearing, are a plurality of cylinders 38*, anynumber of which may be provided, and arranged in any suitable positionand at any desired angle. In Figs. 4 and 5, two such cylinders areshown, which are arranged in inclined positions with respect to eachother. In Fig. 4, each of these cylinders has communication throughpassages 39, with the oil passage 3|, and, in Fig. each cylinder 33communicates through passages 39 with the oil passage 28. If desired,the ends of the cylinders may be closed by plugs 49, or in any othersuitable manner.

Within each of the cylinders is a piston member 4|, the end of which maybe shaped to form a. reduced portion 42, to contact and bear against thebearing member 36. With this construction it will be seen that when theoil is forced from the tank or reservoir 23, by the pump 24, it willflow through the pipe 21 when the valve 34 is properly set, and into theoil passage or channel 28, from where it will flow, under pressure, intothe cylinders 38 to act upon the pistons 4|, which in turn will forcethe bearing member 36 toward the bearing member 35.

This will create a pressure upon the film of oil which encompasses thespindle between the bearing members 35-36, reducing the thickness of theoil film. This will be accomplished, as some of the oil film will beforced or squeezed out through the spaces 31 between the bearing members35-36 and into the circulating oil system. Oil gets into the bearings byseepage through the pistons, and any excess oil will flow out through adrain pipe 43, suitably arranged.

At the forward end of the spindle there may be provided a suitable fluidseal, one form of which is shown in Fig. 2, wherein a diaphragm 44 isclamped between two members 45-46 by means of screws 41, and thisdiaphragm supports a member 48, that contacts and cooperates withanother seal member 49.

At the other end of the spindle, means are provided for effecting an endthrust upon the spindle, shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, wherein anend member 50 is provided with cylinders 5:, any member of which may beemployed, which cylinders may be arranged in any suitable manner withrespect to the end of the spindle. These cylinders may be closed byplugs 52, and movable in each of the cylinders is a piston 53. Theadjacent end of the spindle I5 is preferably reduced, as at 54, andencompassing said reduced portion, so as to abut the shoulder 55 whichis formed by said reduced portion, is a collar 56. This collar is keyedor otherwise fastened to the spindle, as at 51, and is provided with aperipheral flange 58, of a thickness preferably considerably less thanthe lengthwise dimension of the collar.

Encompassing the collar, and on each side of the flange 58, are collarsor annular members 59-60. The collar 59 is secured to the bearingelement 35 by means of a pin 92, so that the elements 35 and 59 willboth be maintained against rotation. The collar or annular member 60 isdisposed on the opposite side of the flange 59, and in a position to beengaged by the reduced end 53 of the pistons 53. As the bearing element36 is keyed to the bearing member I! by means of a key 31 these partswill be maintained against rotation.

Communicating with the oil passage 3|, are passages 65, that lead to thecylinders 5|, so that oil pressure may be exerted upon the pistons 53,to force them against the collar 60, which in turn will cause thecollars 59 and 59 to be forced together to provide an end thrust uponthe shoulder of the spindle. In addition to the lubrication obtained byseepage, a passage 69 is provided for oil for lubrication, and passages6'! form communications with the inside of the spindle bearing. Anadditional passage 98 may be pro- Vided for supplying oil to the end ofthe spindle, and this latter passage has communication with the passage63.

Suitable sealing means may be provided for the spindle between thebearing I and the rotor, and may embody a diaphragm 59, clamped betweenthe bearing I and a collar 19 by means of screws 7|, and this diaphragmsupports a sealing element 72 that cooperates with a sealing element 13.

The rotor 14 of the motor may be secured to the spindle I5 in anysuitable manner, such as by being clamped between two collars '|5'|6,the latter being threaded upon the spindle, as at Tl, the collar beinganchored, as at 18, and the rotor being splined on the spindle by a key,as at 19.

Figs. 7-10 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which thespindle 81 is mounted in a frame 88 having a removable head portion 89,the parts 88 and 89 being held together by fastening devices 83. Theframe member 88 supports spaced bearings at the opposite ends of thespindle. Each of these bearings comprise lower and upper bearingelements 99 and 9|, which are similar to the elements 35 and 36. Theframe 88, however, provides generally rectangular cavities 8| forreceiving the elements 90 and 9|, the general contour of which is rectangular. These elements 99 and 9| are adapted to be forced together,for the same purpose as the elements 35 and 36, by means of pistonelements 92 operating in cylinder cavities 93 formed in the head 89, oilunder pressure being supplied in the cylinders 93 behind the pistons 92,through supply conduits 94, channels 95 and cylinder connecting ducts99. The pistons 92 may thus be thrust under hydraulic pressure, to presselements 99 and 9| together upon the spindle, oil being forced orsqueezed out through the openings or spaces 86 between the elements 90and 9|.

Within the bearing support member 88, there is provided a chamber 91, inwhich is arranged a collar 98, supported by the spindle, and securedthereto by fastening devices such as screws99. A collar I having an oilgroove-IN; also encompasses the spindle, and is disposed adjacent thecollar 08. A support I02 encompasses the spindle and abuts a shoulderI03 in the member 88. Disposed between the support I02 and the collarI00, is a cylinder and piston carrying member 504, in which there isprovided a plurality of cylinders and pistons I05I06, of a constructionsimilar to the cylinderv and piston elements 38-4], and the cylindersreceive oil, under pressure, from a supply pipe I01, and suitableconnecting passages. A fluid tight connection or adjustable joint I08 isprovided for the supply pipe I01.

Thus when fluid pressure is admitted into the cylinders I 05, thepistons I06 will force the collar I00 against the collar 98, to provideend thrust for the spindle.

At each end of the spindle 81, there is provided suitable sealing means.At one end of the spindle the seat embodies a collar I09, which abuts asealing element H0, and is held in engagement therewith by means of acoiled spring I I I that is suitably supported by the spindle and isheld in position longitudinally of the spindle by the bearing members 90and SI at one side of the spring and an annular member H3 at the otherside of the spring. The annular member H3 is held in position throughthe medium of screws H4. One end of the spring engages a bearing surfaceH5 on the collar I09, and the other end contacts a shoulder I IS on thebearing 0|. The member H3 is provided with a recess III in its outerface, and an annular member H8 has a recess H9 in its inner face,positioned that the recessed portions II'II I9 interfit.

At the other end of the spindle is a somewhat similar seal embodying acoil spring Ill sealed in a recess 88 one end of the spring abutting ashoulder Ilfi and the other end contacting a bearing surface 5 carriedby a collar I09 This collar is provided with a sealing surface Iilfithat abuts a sealing surface on a collar 87 sealed in an opening in anannular member H3 held in place by screws H4. Another collar M3 isthreaded upon the spindle, as at 01', for holding these parts inassembled relation, and the collar I00 is maintained against rotationpreferably by anchoring pins II3 If desired, the hearing may bewater-cooled by providing a water circulation chamber or passage I2I,having an inlet I22, and an outlet I23, the bottom of the chamber beingclosed by a suitable closure I24, such as a plate or the like.

It is thought that the operation of this improved spindle constructionwill be clearly understood from the foregoing, but, briefly stated, itis as follows:

The bearings are filled with the lubricant by the seepage of oil throughthe pistons. The oil seepage past the pistons ll (Fig. 4) will enter thecavity around the bearings and 36, and will travel to the left-hand endof the bearings, viewing Fig. 2, within the seal I2, and will travelthrough the grooves 08, to lubricate the spindle. A return pipe it isprovided, which leads back to the reservoir 23. A similar return pipe 13is provided at the other end of the spindle (see Fig. 1).

The portion of the spindle within the bearings will be coated with afilm of oil, which, under ordinary working conditions, is of athickness:

somewhat greater than the I thickness; of; the film when-thedeviceisused for-accurate mae chi-hing; When employed for; general orrough' work, it isnot as; important to, controlthe;

which encompass the spindle will be forced together; that is, themovable member willbe forced towards the othermember, to reduce'thethickness of the oil film. Undersuch pressure, the excess oil will beforced or squeezed out of the bearings through the spaces between thebearing elements andinto the circulating system. Therefore, the actionof the spindle can be controlled by controlling the thickness of the oilfilm.

Similarly, an end thrust is obtained through the medium of the endcylinder and piston elements. This is also accomplished without anydetriment to the general lubricating system for the spindle.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that the bearings areadjustably flexible, so that when the spindle gets hot and expands, thebearings will also be permitted to expand slightly, so that, regardlessof the temperature, the load will be uniform in regard to the setting ofthe relief valves.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various changes may be made inthe details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departingfrom the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a frame providing spaced spindle bearings, arotatable spindle journaled in said bearings, means forming a, shoulderon the spindle, between said bearings and intermediate the ends of thespindle, a piston support member embracing said shaft adjacent saidshoulder, said member being formed with piston cavities opening towardsaid shoulder, piston elements supported in said cavities, means toapply fluid pressure in said cavities behind said pistons to thrust thesame toward said shoulder to impart end thrust on said spindle.

2. In combination, a frame providing spaced spindle bearings, arotatable spindle journaled in said bearings, means forming a shoulderon the spindle, between said bearings and intermediate the ends of thespindle, a piston support member embracing said shaft adjacent saidshoulder, said member being formed with piston cavities opening towardsaid shoulder, piston elements supported in said cavities, means toapply fluid pressure in said cavities behind said pistons to thrust thesame toward said shoulder to impart end thrust on said spindle, saidpiston support member being formed as an element separate from the frameand mounted on a seat formed in the frame in position spaced from andfacing said shoulder.

3. In combination, a frame providing a spindle bearing, a rotatablespindle journaled in said bearing, means forming a shoulder on thespindle, a piston support member formed. with piston cavities openingtoward said shoulder, piston elements supported in said cavities, meansto apply fluid pressure in said cavities, behind said pistons, to forcesame toward said shoulder to impart end thrust on the spindle.

4. In combination, a frame providing a spindle bearing, a rotatablespindle journaled in said bearing, means forming a, shoulder on thespindle, a piston support member formed with piston cavities openingtoward said shoulder, piston elements supported in said cavities, meansto apply fluid pressure in said cavities, behind said pistons, to forcesame toward said shoulder to impart end thrust on the spindle, saidpiston support member being formed as an element separate from saidframe and removably secured on an annular seat formed in said frame inposition axially spaced from said shoulder.

GUSTAF ERIKSON. EDDIE CHRISTIAN FILSTRUP.

8 REFERENCES siren The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 418,123 Grimm Dec. 24, 18891,272,041 Hert July 9, 1918 1,690,425 Norton Nov. 6, 1925 2,028,487Asbridge Jan. 21, 1936 2,344,571 Turrettini Mar. 21, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS 15 Number Country Date 410,961 Great Britain May 31, 1934482,627 Great Britain Apr. 1, 1938 240,960 Germany Nov. 21, 1911 623,429Germany Dec. 20, 1935

